24: New Jack City

FINALLY.

After almost two years since the last original episode of “24”, the show came back last night with the first part of its customary two-night, four-hour premiere. And, no, I didn’t forget about the TV movie “24: Redemption” — it’s just that “Redemption” felt more like a sample you get at the supermarket. It wasn’t until last night that the “24” we know and (and, if you’re reading this, I assume) love came back.

And I have to say I was slightly underwhelmed by the first two hours of season 7. (Insert needle scratching on record sound.) Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the show’s crap or that this season has no chance. It’s just that, as “24” season premieres go, this one was missing a little something. Actually, it was missing a BIG something, the sort of earth-shattering effect that leaves fans shaken and sets the stage for the rest of the season.

The gold standard of course was the season 5 premiere (I’ll not spoil it for the more sensitive viewers), but even season 2 had Jack beheading a guy by the end of the first hour. The big shocker for season 7 was that Tony Almeida is alive and well, and working for a terrorist group with ties to the African terrorist group we saw in “Redemption.” Of course, Tony’s reappearance would’ve been a lot more shocking if it weren’t part of all the show’s promo materials as far back as a year ago.

Of course, it’s completely possible (and actually kinda likely) that the show will deliver that wow moment Monday night by the end of the fourth hour (I still haven’t forgiven the show for killing the person they killed at the end of season 6’s fourth hour).But instead of speculating about what’s going to happen tonight, let’s talk about what happened last night.

Jack Bauer, who don’t need no stinkin’ lawyer, was facing a Senate committee led by Red from “That 70’s Show” (aka Kurtwood Smith). The Senator wanted Jack to answer for all the times he circumvented the law in order to protect our country. While Kiefer Sutherland was great in this scene (and in the first two episodes), I found his standoff-ish demeanor curious. I thought part of the reason he was in Africa was to help atone for all the things he’d done back in the States, but now here he was telling Senator Red that he regretted nothing. I figure Jack just doesn’t feel like he has to apologize to the Senator or any of the other suits in Washington.

The hearing was interrupted by Renee Walker of the FBI who needed Jack’s help with an urgent matter. It seems the loving father who was kidnapped in the episode’s opening sequence (those car crashes WERE badass) is Michael Latham. Apparently, Latham helped design our country’s CIP firewall which is responsible for protecting, um, everything. As my girlfriend Erica pointed out, it doesn’t seem very prudent for a security system which is so crucial to our country to be so vulnerable. Honestly, if all anybody had to do was kidnap Latham, then that guy should be as heavily guarded as the president.

Speaking of the president (that’s a professional segue way people), I’m liking new president Allison Taylor. After the fiasco that was Wayne Palmer, the show seems content to going back and trying to replicate the uber-goodness of original prez David Palmer. President Taylor is adamant about the U.S. interfering in Sangala, the fictional war-torn African country where “Redemption” was set. The president’s gender or inexperience wasn’t an issue last night and I liked that. Cherry Jones is so authoritative as an actor that she can completely chew out her Secretary of State and not have it seem like a stretch at all.

I’m considerably less into her husband Henry’s escapades. Henry is obsessed with the idea his son Roger’s death wasn’t a suicide. Since we saw in “Redemption” that a co-worker of Roger’s was murdered for poking his nose where it didn’t belong by a Big Bad group led by Jon Voight, I’d say his hunch is probably right. However, since Roger wasn’t much of a memorable or sympathetic character in “Redemption”, it’s hard to get behind or care about Henry’s crusade. And that’s assuming you watched “Redemption” and realize that Henry is probably right — otherwise you might think he’s a maniac the same way the Secret Service agent assigned to protect him does. Hopefully, they won’t drag this out too long.

On the other hand, I realize “24” is a fast-paced show, but I wish they would’ve dragged a couple of things out last night. For example, it would’ve been nice if it would’ve taken more than a little over an hour to find and capture Tony. Also, it might’ve been cool if their fight had lasted more than 10 seconds. But let’s back up a bit.

Jack had to agree to play by the FBI’s rules in helping to catch Tony. After Agt. Walker (a blank slate whom I’m still trying to decide if I like or not) revealed that Tony was behind the current threat, she explained to an incredulous and skeptical Jack (and the incredulous and skeptical “24” fans who watched Tony die) how Tony was still alive. Apparently after his heart stopped, he was revived a few minutes later by EMTs. For some reason, I’m strangely ok with this explanation.

Maybe it’s because it’s good to have Carlos Bernard back on the show. I always thought he had some of the very best chemistry with Kiefer Sutherland (maybe that’s why the writers were in a rush to get them in a room together). Tony didn’t have any prolonged scenes, but Bernard has adjusted his performance enough (beyond cutting his hair and growing facial hair) to make us believe Tony is now a wounded and bad man. Then again, maybe he’s not COMPLETELY bad since he prevented those two planes from crashing into each other at the last second. Despite the fact that Walker said the FBI checked with every agency, I still can’t help but feel Tony’s working undercover for — somebody.

Jack, on the other hand, was worried about the leak within the FBI, which became apparent when a sniper conveniently took out the forger who was about to help Jack and Agent Walker find Tony. It became even more obvious that the FBI has holes when a dirty agent was sent to help the sniper get away. Fortunately, Jack spent some time as a fashion policeman and was able to spot the brown-booted sniper in a crowd.

I also enjoyed the scenes in the FBI offices. On top of the familiar faces (Billy Walsh from “Entourage” as sour techie Sean! Janeane Garofalo!) my favorite thing about the FBI scenes it’s that it was a sort of a bizarro CTU. With CTU now disbanded, Jack has to deal with a bunch of stiffs in suits in harshly-lit office (major contrast with the always-dark CTU). At least there’s still a buffoonish boss (Agt. Moss) who Jack gets to disobey when he doesn’t listen to our hero’s advice.

The show probably wants us to think Moss is the leak within the FBI, but I’m actually thinking Agt. Walker might be the leak. Besides Moss, she’s also known all the moves Jack has made and she could’ve been lying to Jack about Tony not working undercover for anyone.Either way, I’m thrilled the show is back. Despite the literal and figurative lack of explosions in the first two hours, I think it’s going to be a good season.

So what’d you think of this episode? Who do you think is the mole in the FBI? What does the group Tony’s associated with want? (He said “we’ll find out”) Didn’t Janeane Garofalo’s face look weird? What kind of pen would YOU use to torture someone? Finally, which other deceased character do you wish had been “rushed to the EMTs and revived a minute later”? (I’m going with former President Logan, who was mentioned as being under house arrest when Jack was talking about the people involved in Michelle’s death who “were either dead or in jail.”)